According to an article in the USA Today “The 2014 rankings, released Thursday, are based on more than 176,000 phone interviews with people in all 50 states. The index measures how people feel about and experience their daily lives, and looks at their health across five categories: purpose, social, financial, community and physical.

Which state is #1, believe it or not Alaska is. You would think that with the cold winters Alaska would not be at the top. Well Alaska has been in the top 10 in the rankings for 7 years straight.

According to Dan Witters, research director of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index Alaskans “do a lot of the blocking and tackling, as far as taking care of themselves and making good choices, but also demonstrating good holistic well-being in ways that extend beyond the conventional physical wellness”.

Per the survey the top and bottom 10 states in their rankings are as follows:

Top 10 states ranked highest for overall well-being:

1. Alaska

2. Hawaii

3. South Dakota

4. Wyoming

5. Montana

6. Colorado

7. Nebraska

8. Utah

9. New Mexico

10. Texas

The 10 states ranked lowest for overall well-being:

41. Missouri

42. Michigan

43. Arkansas

44. Tennessee

45. Alabama

46. Mississippi

47. Ohio

48. Indiana

49. Kentucky

50. West Virginia

Well at least we beat out Ohio, right? That is something to be happy about.